Smoke and heat relief vent

ABSTRACT

A smoke and heat relief vent for use on building roofs and arranged for automatic or manual opening to release smoke and/or heat resulting from fire inside a building. Manual release is operable for causing opening of the vent at any time.

Field 1451 Apr. 24, 1973 1 1 SMOKE AND HEAT RELHEF VENT 1.021,?82 4/1912 Klein "98/85 sv 1,042,575 10/1912 Lindemeyer ..98/86 [75] inventor Thomas meld lndanapohs 1,111,831 9/1914 Hames ....98/86 [73] Assignee: Jenn-Air Corporation, Indiana olis, 2,923,226 2/1960 Wasserman et a1. ..98/86 d P In [22] Filed May 24 1971 Primary Examiner-William F. ODea Assistant ExaminerPeter D. Ferguson PP NOJ 146,210 Att0rney-Harold R. Woodard 52 us. c1 ..98/86 ABSTRACT [51 r Cl "F23! 17/02 A smoke and heat relief vent for use on building roofs [58] Field of Search ..98/42, 85, 86 and arranged for automatic or manual opening to release smoke and/or heat resulting from fire inside a [56] References Cited building. Manual release is operable for causing open- UNITED STATES PATENTS 111g Of the vent at any time.

910,398 1/1909 Lee ..98/85 SV 5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures I I6 llllu. l 12 l SMOKE AND HEAT RELIEF VlENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a smoke and heat relief vent for use on building roofs and adaptable for automatic or manual opening to release smoke and/or heat resulting from fire inside the building. Manual opening may be initiated at any time for other reasons such as, for example, obtaining more air circulation through the building in hot weather.

The vent comprises an open frame including a base portion, and a releasable cover overlying the frame in weather protective position. The base portion is adapted to be mounted on top of upstanding walls of a roof curb which frames a vertical opening in a building roof. The cover is supported from the frame in a manner to overlie the opening through the frame whether in closed or open position. The cover is biased toward an upward or raised (open) position above the frame by spring means. Latching mechanism cooperates between the frame and cover to hold the cover in a normally closed position immediately over the frame. Automatic and manual release means are provided for causing the latching mechanism to release the cover whereupon it is thrown into a raised (open) position by the action of the springs. The release means is operable for releasing the latching mechanism upon parting of an exposed fusible link at a temperature above a predetermined level, or by manual means.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a smoke and heat relief vent.

It is another object of this invention to provide a smoke and heat relief vent having a cover adapted to be thrown open by spring action upon release initiated automatically in response to heat or by manual release.

It is another object of this invention to provide mechanism for opening the cover of a relief vent.

It is still another object of this invention to provide release means for unlatching the cover thereby permitting the cover to be opened.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be more fully understood and further objects and advantages thereof will become apparent when reference is made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a smoke and heat relief vent;

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation of the smoke and heat relief vent;

FIG. 3 is a view in elevation of the smoke and heat relief vent with the cover thereof shown in raised open position;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 44 of FIG. 3, and at a slightly larger scale;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2 and showing mechanism for releasibly holding the cover in closed position;

FIG. 6 is another enlarged detailed cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 3 for showing mechanism for raising the cover to open position;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the vent frame base showing parts of the release means and latching mechanism which hold the cover in closed position; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of torsional linkage mechanism for raising the cover.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT This specificationis to be considered with reference to the several figures of the drawings. In FIGS. 1 and 2 there are shown perspective and elevation views, respectively, of the smoke and heat relief vent, identified generally by the numeral 10, sitting atop of roof curb 12. The curb itselfis an open frame, generally rectangular, having upstanding walls for surrounding or framing a vertical opening in a building roof. The purpose of the curb is to provide upstanding walls for guarding entry of snow, water or condensate from the roof into the opening, and to provide a support for the vent which resides thereover.

In FIG. 3, there is illustrated in side elevation vent 10 with its cover in open or raised position above frame 16. In this position, smoke or hot gases, which would collect beneath a building roof in the event of fire, are permitted to exit through opening 17 to the atmosphere. An open rectangular metal frame includes a base frame portion 16, with portion 16 to be received on top of roof curb 12, and an upper frame portion 15 which carries a cover, preferably in the form of a light admitting plastic dome.

FIG. 4, which is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3, shows mechanism for causing the cover, when released, to be raised above frame 16. An arm arrangement is provided adjacent each corner of the frame and cover. One form of the arm, as illustrated in FIGS, 3, 4 and 6, comprises plural bars 18 and 20 which are connected together at their midportions and with their upper and lower extremities spaced apart. This is illustrated in detail in FIG. 6, wherein the spaced upper ends of bars 18 and 20 carry a shaft 22 of a roller or cam follower 24, and the spaced lower ends are non-rotatably attached to one end of a torsion bar 26. FIG. 8 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the bars identified as 18 and 20' spaced apart, as in FIG. 6, to carry a roller or follower 24 at their upper ends and are fixedly secured at their lower ends to torsion bar 27.

Rollers or followers 24, 24 are adapted to be received in channels 28 of frame 15. These rollers have a diameter slightly less than the width of the opening in channel 28, and are therefore adapted to move rectilinearly therein as the cover is raised or lowered. A pair of torsion bars 26, 27 are located on opposite sides of frame 16 in a crossed position, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Spaced apart plates 30, welded or otherwise attached to frame 16, carry oposite ends of torsion bars 26, 27 in a manner best illustrated in FIG. 8. One plate rotatably carries torsion bar 27 and non-rotatably carries torsion bar 26, while the other plate rotatably carries bar 26 and non-rotatably carries bar 27. Bars 18, 20 (or 18' and 20') are secured to the torsion bars in a manner whereby they tend to be rotated upwardly toward a vertical position unless held in a biased position, such as when the cover is closed. As illustrated in FIG. 8, link 32' limits the swinging action of the arm.

This, of course, limits the extent to which cover 14 can be raised to define opening 17. This link is provided with a slot 34' longitudinally thereof adapted to be received over pin 36. A lateral offset in the slot permits cooperation with the pin to retain the link and arm in the position shown in FIG. 8, until such time that is is manually removed as for example when the cover is to provide a detent be re-set, i.e., lowered.

These arms are located adjacent the four corners of frame 16. They are adapted to operate in unison to raise cover once the cover has been released from its closed position. By the links associated with the arms, the arms are retained in their upward position until manually released. Rollers 24 move along tracks 28, as the arms raise cover 10 in a manner to prevent binding caused by one side tending to rise faster than the other.

Open frame 16 is shown in plan view in FIG. 7 as it would rest on top of curb 12. FIG. 7 discloses a cable arrangement operatively connected with latching mechanism. The cables are arranged with spring means to hold the latch mechanism in position for retaining the cover in closed position. One cable includes a heat fusible link. Upon parting of this link, spring tension is rendered ineffective whereby the latching mechanism is adapted to release the cover. The cover then moves upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 4.

Frame 16 carries a pair of brackets 40 on opposite sides thereof as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. These brackets each carry a latch 42 pivotally supported by pin 44. These latches in cooperation with U-bolts 46 attached to cover frame 15, and the pulling force applied by cables 48 define the latching mechanism which releasably retains the cover in closed position. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the upper part of latch 42 has a catch portion 50 which cooperates with portion 52 of U-bolt 46. The operative face of catch portion 50 is provided with sufficient taper so that when tension on cable 48 is released, U-bolt portion 52 slips off. The cover is thereby free from restraining connection to frame 16; it may then be forced upwardly by the arms located at each corner.

By referring again to FIG. 7, it will be noted that cable 48 extends across the opening of frame 16 for connecting both latches 42. It is desired that the effective length of cable 48 be slightly greater than the distance between the latches. Furthermore a turnbuckle 54 is provided with cable 48 for extending or contracting the effective length thereof. Cable 48 is maintained in the position shown in FIG. 7 by the tension of a spring 56, anchored to another side of the frame. The spring maintains tension on cable 48 through means such as a pulley block 58. A heat fusible link 60 is located between spring 56 and pulley block 58. Tension applied laterally on cable 48 keeps it taut so as to maintain latch 42 in the holding position as shown in FIG. 5. The tension applied by cable 48 can be controlled by the size or stretch on spring 56, and by the effective length of cable 48. The length of cable 48 is so provided that when tension of spring 56 is released, sufficient slack develops to permit latches 42 to pivot and release catch portion 50 of bolts 46.

The tension of spring 56 is overcome in two ways. One is by the parting of fusible link 60, and the other is by a manual override or release. The fusible link located in the throat opening of the frame, is exposed to heat, as for example from a fire. At an elevated temperature the fusible link parts thereby permitting release of the latching mechanism. The manual override or release comprises a cable 62 connected at one end adjacent spring 56 with its other end connected to manual release means such a ring 64 or handle 66. Manual pull on either of these overrides the spring 56 so as to permit cable 48 to relax thus permitting tripping of holding latch 42.

The cable arrangement has been disclosed with specific reference to the construction shown in FIG. 7 for purposes of conveying the principle of operation. Obviously variations can be made therein and still come within the same general idea. As shown, the pull on cable 48 is an obtuse angle, thereby substantial force is applied thereon in a direction between the latches as shown in FIG. 7. It is not required that cables 48 move over a great distance for permitting release to occur. Cable 48 is adapted for adjustment to the desired length and angle.

Disclosure has been made to a smoke and heat relief vent having automatic and manual means operable for initiating a latching mechanism to release its holding force thereby permitting a cover to open. Obvious modifications may be made in the disclosure without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the claims to follow:

What is claimed is:

1. A smoke and heat relief vent adapted to be mounted on a roof curb which curb has upstanding side walls surrounding a vertical opening through a building roof for defining a passage therethrough comprising:

open rectangular frame means including a base frame portion adapted to be received on the roof curb, and a separable upper frame portion carrying a cover overlying the roof opening,

a plurality of pivoted arms interconnecting the frame portions and means biasing said arms to pivotally move and rectilinearly raise the upper frame portion with its cover to an open position wherein it is spaced above the base frame portion,

each of said arms having a pivotal connection to one of said frame portions and extending into engagement with a marginal track surface on the other frame portion, the area of engagement moving along said track surface as said arms are pivotally moved,

latching elements for restraining said arms from moving said upper frame portion to open position,

a tensioning element extending between said latching elements for maintaining them in arm restraining position,

and a release member for interrupting the tension on thelatching elements to free said arms to move the upper frame portion to open position thereby permitting exit of smoke and hot gases from the openmg.

2. A smoke and heat relief vent as claimed in claim 1 in which said arm biasing means takes the form oftorsion bars clamped stationary at one end and each carrying one of said arms at its opposite end and defining the axis of pivotal movement for its respective arm.

3. Asmoke and heat relief vent as claimed in claim 1 in which at least one of said pivoted arms is provided 5. A smoke and heat relief vent as claimed in claim 1 in which said arms are pivotally connected at one end to said base frame portion and at their free end carry rollers adapted to travel along said marginal track surface provided on said upper frame portion as said upper frame portion moves to said open position. 

1. A smoke and heat relief vent adapted to be mounted on a roof curb which curb has upstanding side walls surrounding a vertical opening through a building roof for defining a passage therethrough comprising: open rectangular frame means including a base frame portion adapted to be received on the roof curb, and a separable upper frame portion carrying a cover overlying the roof opening, a plurality of pivoted arms interconnecting the frame portions and means biasing said arms to pivotally move and rectilinearly raise the upper frame portion with its cover to an open position wherein it is spaced above the base frame portion, each of said arms having a pivotal connection to one of said frame portions and extending into engagement with a marginal track surface on the other frame portion, the area of engagement moving along said track surface as said arms are pivotally moved, latching elements for restraining said arms from moving said upper frame portion to open position, a tensioning element extending between said latching elements for maintaining them in arm restraining position, and a release member for interrupting the tension on the latching elements to free said arms to move the upper frame portion to open position thereby permitting exit of smoke and hot gases from the opening.
 2. A smoke and heat relief vent as claimed in claim 1 in which said arm biasing means takes the form of torsion bars clamped stationary at one end and each carrying one of said arms at its opposite end and defining the axis of pivotal movement for its respective arm.
 3. A smoke and heat relief vent as claimed in claim 1 in which at least one of said pivoted arms is provided with a detent means for holding said upper frame portion in open position.
 4. A smoke and heat relief vent as claimed in claim 1 in which all of said latching elements are interconnected by a unitary tensioning element and said release member is actuable from either the interior or the exterior of the roof curb to free said arms.
 5. A smoke and heat relief vent as claimed in claim 1 in which said arms are pivotally connected at one end to said base frame portion and at their free end carry rollers adapted to travel along said marginal track surface provided on said upper frame portion as said upper frame portion moves to said open position. 